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Most Common Health Issues for Seniors

Updated on September 26th, 2023 by Cassandra Love13 mins read

As you age, you’ll start to face new health problems, and old ones become harder to treat. Thankfully, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seniors today can expect to live longer and healthier than ever before. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to be careful with your health though. Taking steps like quitting smoking, losing weight, and eating healthier can help you avoid the most common health issues that seniors face.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is one of the most common health problems that seniors have to deal with. There are a range of conditions that fall into the heart disease category:

Blood vessel diseases
Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
Congenital heart defects
Heart muscle disease
Heart valve disease

Heart diseases are also called “silent killers” because they don’t always have obvious outward signs. You have a higher risk of heart disease if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.

Heart Disease Symptoms

Heart disease symptoms vary depending on what types of disease it is:

Blood Vessel Disease Symptoms

Coronary artery disease is a common heart problem that affects the main blood vessels that bring blood to the heart muscle. Most of the time, coronary artery disease is caused by cholesterol buildup (plaque) in the heart’s vessels. This plaque build up can lead to the heart and other parts of your body getting less blood. Which can lead to heart attacks, angina, or stroke. Men and women can have different signs of coronary artery disease. For example, men more commonly experience chest pain while women are more likely to have nausea, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms include:

Chest tightness
Chest pressure
Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, or back
Numbness, pain, weakness in your legs or arms

Coronary artery disease might not be found until you have a heart attack or stroke. It’s important to keep an eye out for any of these symptoms and talk to your doctor about them. If you mention it early enough the disease can be found and treated early.

Arrhythmia Symptoms

Arrhythmia is when your heart is beating too fast or slow in an abnormal way. In general, heart arrhythmias can lead to problems like stroke, sudden death, and heart failure. Blood clots are more likely to happen in people with heart problems. If a clot breaks free, it can move from your heart to your brain and cause a stroke. Some signs of arrhythmia are:

Chest pain or discomfort
Dizziness
Fainting
Chest flutters
Lightheadedness
Racing heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Slow heartbeat

Congenital Heart Defect Symptoms

Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) is a group of disorders that affect the structure of your heart and are present at birth. “Congenital” means that the problem was there when the baby was born. It happened while the baby was still in the womb. These diseases can change how your heart pumps blood. They are also called birth defects of the heart.

Heart problems that are present at birth can be mild or very dangerous. Depending on the type of heart disease and how bad it is, signs may not show up until a person is an adult. Some people never feel anything at all. And some people were treated for these conditions when they were kids, only to have long-term effects as adults. Symptoms include:

Blue tints to fingernails, lips, and skin
Dizziness
Fatigue
Heart murmur
Heart palpitations
Irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Swelling in your ankles, feet, or hands

Heart Muscle Disease Symptoms

Heart muscle disease, or cardiomyopathy, makes it harder for senior’s heart to pump blood to the rest of your body. Cardiomyopathy can cause the heart to stop working. There are 3 types of cardiomyopathy: dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive. Depending on the type of cardiomyopathy and how bad it is, treatment might include medicines, device implants, surgery or in the worst case heart transplant. Symptoms include:

Breathlessness
Swelling in your legs, ankles, and feet
Bloating
Coughing
Difficulty lying down
Fatigue
Chest discomfort
Dizziness
Fainting

Heart Valve Condition Symptoms

The aorta, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid valves are the four valves in the heart. They open and close to help the heart pump blood. Many things can hurt the valves in the heart. A heart valve can become narrowed (stenosis), leaky (regurgitation or weakness), or not close properly (prolapse).

Heart valve disease is another name for valve heart disease. Depending on which valve isn’t working right, the signs of heart valve disease are usually:

Chest pain
Fainting (syncope)
Fatigue
Irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Swollen feet or ankles

Medicare And Heart Disease

Medicare Part B pays for heart disease blood tests every 5 years if your doctor orders them. You don’t necessarily have to have any signs of heart disease to get these tests done, you can have them just as a precaution if you’d like. Original Medicare pays 100% of the Medicare-approved amount for screening blood tests for heart disease. This means you don’t have to pay anything. Medicare Advantage plans have to cover heart disease screenings without deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance if you see a provider in their network.

During your heart disease check, your doctor may find something new or old that needs to be looked into or fixed. This extra care is diagnostic, which means that your doctor is treating you because of some signs or risk factors. During a preventive visit, Medicare may charge you for any medical care you get.

Obesity

As the number of seniors in the U.S grows, so does the obesity rate. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, more than one-third of seniors were considered obese. Research has shown that obesity puts older people at risk for a wide range of health problems. When a person is overweight, their organs are put under extra stress, which makes it hard for them to work properly. If you are obese as a senior, you are more likely to have health problems like:

Diabetes
Hypertension
Respiratory problems
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Cardiovascular disease
Cancer
Mobility issues
Body pain
Gallbladder disease

Additionally, obesity has been shown to cause depression and a low quality of life. Depression in old age can put you at a higher risk for heart disease and other serious health complications.

Medicare and Obesity

Recent changes to Medicare Part B are a big step toward getting doctors and patients alike to see obesity as a serious health problem. So, beneficiaries with a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or more can get free obesity screenings and behavioral therapy through the Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Obesity program. Their services must be given by a doctor, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, or clinical nurse specialist. Covered services include:

Initial BMI assessment
Nutritional evaluation
Ongoing weight loss and dietary counseling

Medicare only pays for visits that take place in a primary care setting as part of the Intensive Behavioral Therapy program. If your doctor tells you to see someone else, like a chef, you’ll have to pay for those services yourself. Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans give you more benefits, which can help you lose weight. These plans may cover gym memberships and subscriptions to exercise programs like SilverSneakers, an app for older people that helps them stay fit. For a short time, some Medicare Advantage plans may also cover the delivery of healthy meals to your home.

Medicare will pay for bariatric surgery if your doctor says you need it because you are very overweight (BMI of 35 or higher). In most cases, you’ll need a certain BMI and at least one health problem connected to your weight, like diabetes or heart disease, in order to get coverage. You must also show that you have tried and failed to lose weight in the past by dieting or working out.

Diabetes

Diabetes affects about 33% of adults ages 65 and up. People in this age group are more likely than younger people with diabetes to get problems like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), kidney failure, and heart disease. There is new knowledge that can help us better understand and treat diabetes in older people. Special things should be taken into account to help people’s general health and quality of life. Many older people have more than one condition at the same time, such as cognitive impairment, heart disease, and others that affect how they learn about and take care of their diabetes.

Diabetes Symptoms

Diabetes can cause you to feel tired, hungry, or thirsty more often, to lose weight without trying, to urinate a lot, or to have trouble seeing clearly. You could also get skin diseases or take a long time to recover from cuts and bruises. Some people with diabetes may not know they have it because the signs usually come on slowly and are easy to miss. Seniors sometimes brush off these signs as “getting old,” but they could be signs of a major problem. If you have any of these signs, you should talk to your doctor.

Medicare And Diabetes

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or have certain risk factors, you can rest easy knowing that Medicare Part B covers free diabetes screenings, prevention programs, supplies and nutrition therapy. So you won’t have to pay your deductible or the copayment for Part B, which is usually 20% of the cost of services paid by Medicare. Part B also pays for lessons on how to take care of your diabetes on your own, but you may have to pay the Part B deductible and copay.

Screenings

You can get up to two diabetes checks a year for free if your doctor thinks you might get diabetes and you have any of the following risk factors:

High blood pressure
Abnormal cholesterol history
High blood sugar
Obesity

Or if you have 2 of more of these:

Are 65 or older
Had gestational diabetes during a pregnancy
BMI of 25-29.9
Parents or siblings with diabetes

Prevention

One Medicare-covered diabetes prevention program can help you avoid type 2 diabetes, which often happens to people because of what they eat, how little they exercise, or how they live their lives. The program includes weekly group meetings for six months to help you change your diet, move more, and keep your weight in check, as well as six monthly follow-up meetings.

To be eligible, you must have certain amounts of glucose in your blood or plasma, a BMI of 25 or more, and no history of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Part B needs you to go to a program put on by a Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program provider that has been approved.

Nutritional Therapy

If you have diabetes or kidney disease and your doctor tells you to go to nutrition therapy, you don’t have to worry. This service may include an initial nutrition and lifestyle exam, individual and group nutritional therapy, help with managing lifestyle factors that affect your diabetes, and follow-up visits. The nutrition therapy services must be given by a registered dietitian or another qualified nutrition worker.

Diabetes Supplies

Medicare covers a lot of products for seniors with diabetes, like blood sugar monitors, glucose test strips, glucose solutions, and lancets used to draw blood. It also pays for constant glucose monitors for seniors who take insulin or who have had trouble with low blood sugar in the past. Part B says that these items are covered as long-lasting medical tools. After you’ve paid your Part B payment for the year, you’ll pay 20% of Medicare-approved costs.

You must buy the equipment from a Medicare-enrolled supplier or order it through Medicare’s mail-order program using a Medicare national contract provider. A Part D prescription plan pays for things like alcohol swabs, bandages, inhaled insulin devices, needles, and syringes that are used to give insulin.

Dementia

Dementia isn’t just one illness. It’s actually a general term for a group of signs that people with different diseases, like Alzheimer’s, may have. Diseases that are called “dementia” are caused by changes in your brain that make it not work properly. The symptoms of dementia cause a decline in cognitive abilities that is serious enough to make it hard to live on your own or do daily tasks. Dementia also changes how you act, feel, and relate to others.

60-80% of dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Vascular dementia is the second most common cause. It is caused by tiny blood clots and blocked blood vessels in your brain. People with mixed dementia have brain changes that stem from more than one type of dementia at the same time. Most people call dementia “senility” which is wrong because that term comes from the belief that mental decline is a normal part of aging, which it’s not.

Medicare And Dementia

Medicare covers dementia care, providing much-needed assistance throughout the condition. Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and other dementias require comprehensive care across multiple healthcare providers. However, Medicare addresses many of these needs, thankfully.

First, Medicare Part B covers cognitive tests. These are essential for senior dementia tracking. Doctors can adapt treatment plans based on cognitive changes in you or your loved one through regular cognitive exams. They can also identify the patient’s dementia stage. Medicare Part B provides cognitive and home safety tests. These examinations can detect household hazards that could injure or complicate dementia patients. The evaluations suggest ways to make living safer and dementia-friendly. Medicare Part B also covers care planning. The advancement of dementia requires care modifications. Medicare care planning helps address medical, social, and mental needs as dementia progresses.

Medicare Part A covers hospital stays for complications or severe dementia progression. Inpatient care at general or mental hospitals is included. Dementia care requires pharmaceutical management, which Medicare Part D provides. This prescription drug coverage covers doctor-prescribed dementia drugs. This coverage can greatly minimize senior drug expenditures, which can add up. While Medicare provides extensive coverage, it’s crucial to understand your plan’s deductibles, copayments, and other out-of-pocket charges. Remember that knowing what to expect might make dementia care easier.

How EZ Can Help

EZ can help you enroll in Medicare, buy a Medicare Supplement Plan, or compare options. Our representatives deal with top insurance companies. They can compare all local plans for free. We will assess your medical and financial needs and recommend a plan. Simply call one of our qualified agents at 877-670-3602 or enter your zip code in the bar below to begin.

Don’t Wait! Start An Emergency Fund Today

Posted on October 16th, 2020 by Cassandra Love5 mins read

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that sometimes the unexpected happens. Unfortunately, has also taught many families that they are financially underprepared for a crisis. In 2019, research by the Federal Reserve revealed that 22% of Americans regularly expect to forgo or make late payments on some of their bills. In fact, 40% of Americans can’t afford a $400 emergency. Many of us are that close to financial danger. That’s one veterinarian’s bill, two flat tires, or a few days of missed work.

Financial insecurity means more than overdue bills and missed payments. Debt causes stress that can have pretty drastic physical and psychological repercussions. If you are worried about your financial future, or if you feel like you’re in dire straits right now, know that it’s not too late to turn things around. We’ve compiled some financial tips and tricks from the experts to get you on the road to rebuilding your savings account and starting an emergency fund.

The Physical Side of Stress

If financial issues have you feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone: 62% of adults report often feeling stressed about money. That stress can wreak havoc on our bodies. Considering that American debt has increased by a whopping 300% since the 1980s, is it a coincidence that we are also experiencing higher rates of chronic diseases? Experts have mixed opinions, but there is some speculation that the amount of stress Americans are under is the culprit, along with other systemic, environmental, and psychological factors. For example, high levels of stress are associated with:

blood pressure machine with a weekly pack of pills in front of it — *Being stressed out can lead to high blood pressure , which can lead to other serious health conditions with your heart.*

High blood pressure. Often linked to heart attacks, strokes, and a myriad of other health issues, high blood pressure can be triggered by stress. This could be due to the body’s overproduction of stress hormones like cortisol, or due to poor coping mechanisms like binging on snacks.
Diabetes. Evidence suggests that chronic stress can increase the risk of diabetes in adults. To make matters worse, financial uncertainty can limit a person’s access to healthy foods and time or ability to exercise, which can further add to the problem. Evidence also suggests a link between a family’s financial struggles and the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children.
Digestive issues. There is a well documented connection between stress and gastrointestinal issues. When under heavy financial stress, many don’t follow regular eating habits. Healthy food may not even be accessible or affordable for those in financial trouble. In addition, 27% of people with high debt stress reported having ulcers or other digestive tract problems, compared to just 8% who did not report high levels of financial-related stress.
Muscle tension. Over half of all people who experience high debt stress report muscle tension and back pain. When you’re worried about supporting yourself, or your family, it really can feel like you’re “carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders”. To help relieve these symptoms, consider simple stretching and de-stressing exercises!

Of course, it doesn’t help that people who are under financial stress often avoid seeing the doctor out of fear of medical bills. In fact, 1 in 5 people say they have skipped or have considered skipping a routine or sick visit to the doctor’s office. This is understandable, considering that 56 million Americans have difficulties paying their medical bills – just one of the many reasons to work on building an emergency fund!

Turn It Around Today!

It’s not too late to take steps towards lightening your financial load. The best way to start is by saving for an emergency fund. Having money put aside can grant you some peace of mind: you’ll know that your expenses would be covered for a while should you lose your job or become unable to work, or that you would be able to cover a surprise expense, like a large medical bill or automotive repairs. Some financial experts suggest squirreling away three to six months of expenses in an emergency fund that you can access if you need it – so, not in an IRA or 401k account. For some people, three to six months worth of expenses is an unimaginable amount of money, so start with these five small, but meaningful steps:

Learn about the cycles and struggles of debt. Understanding how debt compounds and impacts your psychological and physical wellbeing is the first step to breaking out of that cycle.
Reevaluate your budget and begin saving money so you can be prepared for the worst.

Re-evaluate your budget. Nothing in life is constant, so it is important to evaluate your budget regularly. Turning to auto-payments is a great place to start, and reduces the risk of late fees.

Pay yourself first. Treat your savings account like a bill, and pay it. Some people deposit a percentage or a flat amount of each paycheck, others deposit monthly. Whatever schedule works for you, stick with it!

Turn your savings into profit. Make sure you’ve got your savings funds in an account that accrues interest. It might not add up to much – the average return for most bank accounts right now is between around 0.3% and 0.8% – but every bit counts!
Turn your debt into savings. After you pay off a debt, continue budgeting for it – but, instead of funneling money into that debt, use it to overpay on another balance owed; otherwise, put it right into your savings account.

You’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the stress of debt and the fear of unexpected financial crises. Digging yourself out of debt is hard, but with some simple changes you can get back on track. And doing so, even with baby steps, will help to ease your mind and support your good health.

Staying In Touch In Your Golden Years

Posted on August 8th, 2020 by Cassandra Love5 mins read

As we get older, it’s easy to feel isolated. We know that a sense of community and connection is pivotal for the health and wellness of seniors, but how to maintain that sense of community when living alone is a difficult conundrum. As we navigate critical public health issues and an uncertain future, it is even more important to stay connected with family and loved ones – near and far.

Connection Counts

blood pressure reading with a heart in the middle — *Connecting with loved ones helps your blood pressure, reduce risk of heart disease, and more.*

Even before the pandemic, having a consistent routine of checking in with family and friends was difficult! Adult children have families of their own and are often juggling multiple schedules, and many seniors report feeling concerned about “burdening” their friends. But reaching out, especially during tough times, is vital for our emotional health. In addition, aside from the important emotional benefits of staying in touch, there are myriad long term health benefits. Keeping in contact with loved ones promotes:

Healthy blood pressure levels
A strong immune system
Cognitive function
Reduced risk of heart disease, obesity, and mobility issues
Overall longevity

The question, then, isn’t whether you should spend time with family and friends, but how. Luckily, we live in a time when we have a variety of options for connecting from afar. Here are five tips for staying connected with loved ones even when you can’t be together physically.

Bring back love letters! And not just for romance. There is something so unique about handwritten letters; they can turn mundane content like a description of your daily walk or a recipe into something elegant and treasured. Letter writing is a dying art, and a letter is a gift your friends and family will cherish forever.

Have a high-tech hangout. With tech tools like FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Zoom, and Whatsapp, families and friends can connect through video calls across the globe. FaceTime video calling is built into iPhones, and the other platforms are free to use with an account.

Collaborate on a weekly happy hour. Schedule a regular time to “hang out” with your friends using one of those video calling platforms, and try something new! Maybe you can all try out a new recipe together, or collaborate on a crossword puzzle. Some video call platforms even have games built in, like virtual charades or hangman.

Email. Much like the romance of a letter, but faster. It’s also easy to attach photographs to an email, which adds a visual component that makes you feel even more connected.
Take a virtual vacation. Sure, most of us aren’t traveling right now. But because of the pandemic, many world-class destinations like museums and national parks are offering free, virtual tours. You can call up a friend and explore together from the safety of your own homes!

Tools of the Trade

While technology is expensive it is worth splurging on as a way to keep in touch with loved ones. You don’t need to have the newest, fanciest tech gear, but it is helpful to have these basics:

A smartphone. They’re not only great for phone calls with high-quality sound – most smartphones have video call capabilities built in, or are powerful enough to host some of the platforms for video chatting in mobile format. Also, smartphones nowadays have really powerful cameras – great for snapping and sharing memorable moments!

A computer or tablet. These are the best options for video calling – they offer a stable, high resolution picture which means you can actually see the smiles on the faces of your favorite people. These tools aren’t cheap, but by shopping around you can find one that fits your needs and your price range.
High quality WiFi. Probably the most important aspect of all. If you reside in an assisted or community living situation, it is likely they have high speed WiFi to accommodate multiple residents and their guests. If not, make sure you’re up-to-date with your local provider. You can always call your provider to ask about upgrading your plan to fit your needs – many have offered free or discounted upgrades due to the pandemic.

What matters more than the tools or the tech is the frequency with which you check in with your loved ones. Whether it’s daily, weekly, or monthly, establishing regular lines of communication will help keep up the routine, and bring a sense of normalcy during a strange and scary time. The pandemic has created an even greater sense of isolation for many folks, and that isolation is often accompanied by stress, anxiety, and a feeling of hopelessness. Being connected to your community of loved ones isn’t going to solve all of the problems we’re facing, but it can make you feel better and give you something to look forward to. It’s always a good time to reach out!

This Household Vitamin Could Be The Key To Reducing COPD Attacks

Posted on October 14th, 2019 by Cassandra Love3 mins read

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, is common with almost 12 million people in the U.S. diagnosed every year. Of those adults who are diagnosed, about 120,000 die from it annually. COPD includes a combination of lung conditions that make it hard to breathe, such as chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. According to a new study, people with COPD, are more likely to have an exacerbation if they are deficient in vitamin D.

How It Is Deadly

Internal look of lungs. — *COPD includes a combination of lung conditions that make it hard to breathe, such as chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.*

COPD affects a person’s lungs and their ability to breathe. When symptoms get worse, often unexpectedly, a lung attack can occur. These lung attacks can create an upper respiratory infection. As symptoms worsen, the likelihood of death is increased substantially.

Reducing Death

The deadly lung attacks might be averted by a daily dose of vitamin D. Adrian Martineau, Ph.D., clinical professor of Respiratory Infection and immunity at the Queen Mary University of London, led a study and analyzed data from 469 patients with COPD from 3 clinical trials. He focused on a number of people taking vitamin D doses daily. His findings were that higher levels of vitamin D in patients had a 45% reduction in lung attacks than those who were deficient in vitamin D.

Dr. Martineau said, “Our study shows that giving supplements to vitamin D-deficient COPD patients nearly halves their rate of potentially fatal attacks.” And that “Vitamin D supplementation is safe, and it costs just a few pence to supplement a person for a year—so this is a potentially highly cost-effective treatment that could be targeted at those who have low vitamin D levels following routine testing.”

How Much Vitamin D?

Researchers from the study provided the COPD patients with oral vitamin D3 doses varying from 220,000 IU in six months to 1.2 million IU in 12. What this means is that you should keep your vitamin D levels above 30-40 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter), and in order to do this, 1000-5000 IU of vitamin D3 is needed a day.

Cooked salmon laying on a bed of tomatoes with mushrooms and cheese on top. — *Vitamin D can be found in foods such as salmon. mushrooms, fish, and more.*

Vitamin D supplements can be found in your local grocery store, and in pharmacies. Food is also a great way to get the vitamin D your body needs. Your diet should include salmon, sardines, canned tuna, shrimp, egg yolks, mushrooms, oatmeal, and milk. These foods are high in vitamin D and offer more nutrients for your body. If you cannot get out in the sun to soak up your 10-30 minute daily dose of vitamin D, then supplements and your diet are great ways to get this essential nutrient.

The clinical trials conducted by the researchers offered great insight as to how to reduce a lung attack from COPD. Soon, another clinical trial will be conducted in order to fully understand the effects of vitamin D on people with COPD. Vitamin D has been found to offer protection against asthma attacks, the flu, and more. It might not be a miracle vitamin, but it does offer many benefits, and will not cause harm to your body. If you suffer from COPD, vitamin D might just be what you need to reduce the chances of a lung attack, and possibly save your life.

10 Sex Facts We Guarantee You Don’t Know!

Posted on October 12th, 2019 by Cassandra Love4 mins read

Sex is an act that comes in many forms. There is vanilla sex, kinky sex, fetishes, BDSM, and so much more. People learn about sex at a fairly young age, and their knowledge expands as they get older by talking to people with different experiences, and gain experience themselves. Various facts about sex are common knowledge, but there are some hidden gems people seem to miss.

1. Crocodile Feces Were Once Used As Contraceptives

Back in ancient Egypt, crocodile feces were used as a form of contraception. A clump was inserted into the vagina to act as a barrier from sperm.

Zoomed in picture of the head of a green cactus with spikes. — *In the past, men’s penises actually had spines on them.*

2. Penises Used To Have Spines

Yes, you read that correctly. Penile spines are a type of hard tissue that line the outside of the penis and are still

present in some animals to this day. Geographers state that men used to have these spines, but over time, have lost the DNA code.

3. An Apple A Day Does More Than Keep The Doctor Away

A study conducted in 2014 found that women who ate an apple a day had better sex, and had more lubrication than women who did not. The polyphenols and antioxidants in apples stimulate blood flow to a woman’s vagina, and boost arousal. Apples also contain a chemical that resembles the female sex hormone estradiol, which protects against vaginal dryness. If you want to have better sex, or are struggling with lubrication, try eating an apple every day. It might just make a difference!

4. Average Sex Session is 100-500 Thrusts

Reading the heading probably made you think about how many thrusts occur in your sex sessions. Now, you might find yourself counting next encounter. Researchers found that the average sex session lasts about 100-500 thrusts. One study conducted in 2017 even found that couples in the U.S. will last about 17 minutes, not including foreplay.

5. A Good Sense Of Smell Equates To More Orgasms

A small study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that women who had a heightened sense of smell experienced more frequent orgasms.

Red emergency sign in front of a building. — *If there is too much force on a man’s penis when it is erect, it can break.*

6. A Man’s Penis CAN Break

A penis contains no bones, so many people think that it can not break. This is not true, forceful bending of an erect penis can actually break it. How do you know it is broken? The cylinders of tissue that make up the penis will be extremely painful. There might be a cracking sound, and dark bruising. Blood in urination is also a sign, because the tube that drains the urine can get damaged as well.

7. Death During Sex Is Common

1 in 200 people die suddenly during sex. The cause is usually due to a heart attack/issues or brain hemorrhages.

8. Female Orgasms Last Longer Than Male’s

Women are not only more likely to have multiple orgasms during sex, they also last longer than men’s. A woman’s orgasm lasts about 20 seconds, which is 3 times more than a man’s 6-second burst.

9. A Man’s Ejaculation Speed Is Faster Than You Think

Legs of an African American man with a bar in his hand bent down reeady to run. — *A man’s ejaculation speed is faster than the 100 meters dash world record.*

Want to know what is faster than the 100 meters dash world record? A man’s ejaculation speed! Coming in at 28 miles per hour, a man’s ejaculation travel speed beats the 100 meters dash record by a little over 5 miles per hour.

10. The Heavier The Man, The Longer The Sex Session

Many studies have revealed that men who are heavier, and overweight will last longer in bed, 3 times longer than a thinner, more fit man.

Sex has evolved over many decades, for the better. From spined penises, and crocodile feces as contraception, to numerous healthy birth control options, and an assortment of textured condoms. With the help of science and research, we are able to learn more about the human body than ever. We can find out what foods are good for better sex, and just what we can do to have a healthier, more orgasmic sex life. Some of the things we find out are weird, but definitely an interesting topic of conversation nonetheless!

Yes, Your Fetish Is Normal

Posted on September 9th, 2019 by Cassandra Love4 mins read

By now, you have most likely have heard of people sending pictures of their feet for money. It might seem odd to some people, but for those on the receiving end of those pictures, it is invigorating. The people who buy feet pictures have a foot fetish.This is just one type of fetish in the wide world of fetishes.

Fetishes are more common than people think, and over the past couple of years, a lot more people have been more open to BDSM: bondage & discipline (B&D), dominance & submission (D&S), and sadism & masochism (S&M). Fetishes are often viewed as odd, weird, and shameful. With their mainstream introduction, society is opening up to the idea of sexual fetishes more.

black leather handcuffs with black fur inside. — *Couples who take part in BDSM might be emotionally healthier than those who only partake in “vanilla” sex.”*

There are different kinds of fetishes, both sexual and non-sexual. What do psychologists have to say about people with fetishes? Is it normal or healthy?

Is It Healthy?

In simpler terms, yes. Psychologists and therapists view fetishes as perfectly healthy, as long as it is done with a consenting partner. Some would even go as far as to say that people with fetishes are healthier than those who do not have one. A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, suggests that couples who take part in BDSM might be emotionally healthier than those who only partake in “vanilla” sex.”

It is no different than people with varying food tastes. The same applies to people with fetishes; they just have different sexual needs. Some people remember when they started having a fetish, while others do not. There is no specific reason behind it, but some therapists suggest that it begins in a person’s childhood.

For example, if a teenager loses his virginity to a much older woman, he might begin to have fantasies about older women and become aroused when he sees them or pictures of them, also called Anililagnia. The same can go for inanimate objects. If the woman was wearing stockings, he might have a fetish for stockings or pictures of women in stockings.

Women Have Them Too

Men are not the only ones who have fetishes. Over 10 million copies of Fifty Shades of Grey were sold, mainly purchased by women. The book is all about BDSM, and research has actually shown that getting spanked releases endorphins throughout the body, and actually make sex feel better.

Different Types of Sexual Fetishes

There are so many different kinds of fetishes out there, such as role-playing, swinging, lingerie, and so much more. Some of the most common fetishes are:

Foot Fetish (Podophilia)- Getting aroused by looking, licking, touching, sucking, or caressing someone’s feet.
Stigmatophilia is a fetish a person has when they get aroused by someone’s tattoos.
Shoe Fetish- Being aroused by women’s shoes.
Bondage- Getting aroused by being tied up, and falls under BDSM.
Stigmatophilia- When a person gets sexually aroused looking at someone’s piercings or tattoos.
Voyeurism- Getting aroused by watching other people have sex in real life.
Trichophilia- Playing with, staring, or smelling someone’s hair.
Katoptronophilia- Having sex in front of a mirror.

Having a fetish is completely healthy and does not make you different. People simply vary in sexual appetites and fantasies. Some fetishes, such as BDSM, are now mainstream, which has helped make other fetishes more acceptable. There are even dating sites geared towards people with fetishes.

Make sure that whatever your fetish is, that the other person is consenting. If you oppress your fetish, it can harm you psychologically and have negative effects on your relationship. If your partner is into it, then bring out the handcuffs and whips.

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